Haggai

Today we talked about Haggai and how he received a commandment to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. I shared this quote from Elder Perry and when we talked about the fall of Rome the conversation turned to same-sex marriage. Here is the quote and later I will put a link to the church's stance on this issue.

Elder L. Tom Perry reminded us of the timelessness of Haggai’s injunction to “consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5).
“‘Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
“‘Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
“‘Thus said the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.’ (Hag. 1:5–7.)
“I have read this great scripture and continue to be impressed with how clearly the Old Testament prophet describes the conditions of today. Almost daily we read of those who invest for little return. We eat food so refined that the nourishment is lacking. We witness the drink that can never satisfy the thirst for those who drink; the dressing for style, rather than warmth, comfort, and modesty; the high wages of the wage earner today which still do not satisfy or supply his needs.

“A noted historian several years ago summarized the reasons for the fall of Rome as follows:

“1. The breakdown of the family and the rapid increase of divorce.
“2. The spiraling rise of taxes and extravagant spending.
“3. The mounting craze for pleasure and the brutalization of sports.
“4. The decay of religion into myriads of confused forms, leaving the people without a uniform guide. [See Will Durant, The Foundation of Civilization (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1936), pp. 9–10; Will and Ariel Durant, The Lessons of History (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1968), pp. 87–94.]
“Our unconquered appetites and consuming drive for material possessions appear to be leading us on a course so often repeated in history. Greed, lust, and desire historically have only led mankind to waste, destruction, and suffering.
“Isn’t this the time and isn’t this the hour to follow the admonition of the Lord to ‘consider your ways’?” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1973, p. 14; or Ensign, July 1973, p. 20.)

Take some time to consider your ways. List in your journal the ways you may need to change.

The best place that I have found an answer to the issue of same-sex marriage is at http://newsroom.lds.org/ You can go there and then link to the public issues of same-gender attraction. You will find a great conversation with Elder Oaks about this issue.